English Original
God somehow sent the crow a little bit of cheese. The crow had perched upon a fir. She seemed to have settled down to enjoy her provender, but mused with mouth half-closed, the dainty bit still in it.
Unhappily, the fox came running past that minute. A whiff of scent soon brought him to a pause, and the fox sighted the cheese and licked his jaws.
The rascal stole on tip-toe to the tree. He curled his tail and gazed earnestly. He spoke so softly, scarce whispering each word:
"How beautiful you are, sweet bird! What a neck, and oh! what eyes, like a dream of Paradise! Then, what feathers! What a beak! And, sure, an angel's voice if only you would speak! Sing, darling; don't be shy! Oh, sister, truth to tell, if you, with charms like these, can sing as well, of birds you'd be the queen adorable!"
The silly creature's head turned giddy with his praise. Her breath, for very rapture, swelled her throat; the fox's soft persuasion she obeyed. And high as crow can pitch she cawed one piercing note.
Down fell the cheese! Both cheese and fox have gone their ways.
How often have they told us, please, and always to no use—that flattery's mean and base. The flatterer in our hearts will always find a place.
中文翻译
上帝不知何故赏给了乌鸦一小块奶酪。乌鸦栖息在一棵枞树上，似乎已安顿下来准备享用美食，但她半闭着嘴，仍在思量着口中的美味。
不幸的是，一只狐狸恰巧跑过。一丝香气让它立刻止步。狐狸看见了奶酪，舔了舔嘴唇。
这个狡猾的家伙踮着脚尖偷偷走近树旁。它卷起尾巴，热切地凝视着，用极其轻柔、近乎耳语的声音说道：
“你多么美丽啊，可爱的鸟儿！瞧这脖子，哦！还有这眼睛，宛如天堂之梦！还有这羽毛！这鸟喙！只要你开口，必定有天籁之音！唱吧，亲爱的，别害羞！哦，妹妹，说实话，你若能歌善舞，拥有如此魅力，定是鸟中令人倾慕的皇后！”
这愚蠢的家伙被赞美得晕头转向。她欣喜若狂，气息让喉咙鼓胀；她听从了狐狸的柔声劝诱，尽其所能地发出了一声尖锐的啼叫。
奶酪掉了下来！奶酪和狐狸都消失无踪了。
人们多少次告诫我们阿谀奉承是卑鄙低劣的，却总是徒劳。谄媚者总能在我们心中找到一席之地。